Liquid sprinkling system

ABSTRACT

Improvements in liquid sprinkling systems are disclosed including means and method comprising passing liquid through a plurality of flexible tubings and for cyclicly moving said tubings in unison while liquid is passing therethrough to produce a predetermined liquid sprinkling pattern formed by continually moving liquid streams which evenly distribute the liquid thereover.

United States Patent Wertman Mar. 21, 1972 [54] LIQUID SPRINKLING SYSTEM FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Inventor: Charles Wertman, 1 6 Young, 753,004 7/1956 Great Britain ..239/229 Detroit, Mich. 48205 [22] Filed: Jan. 28, 1971 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr.

Assistant Examiner-Edwin D. Grant [2]] Appl' 110545 Att 0rneyWilliam L. Fisher [52] US. Cl ..239/l, 239/229, 239/242, 57 ABSTRACT 239/243 [51] Int. Cl .......B05b 17/00 Improvements in liquid sprinkling systems are disclosed in- [58] Field of Search ..239/1, 229, 242, 243, 38 l eluding means and method comprising passing liquid through 239/DIG. l a plurality of flexible tubings and for cyclicly moving said tubings in unison while liquid is passing therethrough to [56] References C'ted produce a predetermined liquid sprinkling pattern formed by UNITED STATES PATENTS continually moving liquid streams which evenly distribute the liquid thereover. 1,953,31 l 4/1934 Peik ...239/243 X 2,757,960 8/1956 Hatcher ..239/229 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 24 10 I lll d r 4 w r Li W. l k j I I g 34 36m l --'ir r- --q-.-r-\-r-- 26 l f H {;l 1{ 38 5 I 2 ee- .Hr -1 .-T: t I l -Jr- T' TY FD 2 52 "1. 11,; $1215 10 'l l 42 l -J PATENTEUMARZY 1972 3,550, 7

CHARLES A. WERTNAN INVE TOR 5 Y H15 ATTORNEY LIQUID SPRINKLING SYSTEM My invention relates to liquid sprinkling systems.

The principal object of my invention is to provide improvements in liquid sprinkling systems including means and method comprising passing liquid through a plurality of flexible tubings and for cyclically moving said tubings in unison while liquid is passing therethrough to produce a predetermined liquid sprinkling pattern formed by continually moving liquid streams which distribute the liquid evenly from perimeter to center.

The foregoing object of my invention and the advantages thereof will become apparent during the course of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

HO. 1 is a top plan view of a liquid sprinkling system embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof with parts removed;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view thereof with parts removed; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary top plan and front elevational views, respectively, of said embodiment.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, generally designates said embodiment which comprises a liquid motor 12, a gear reduction train 14, a crank mechanism 16, an oscillating plate 18 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart clearance holes 20, a liquid manifold compartment 22 and a plurality of flexible tubings 24 extending through said clearance holes 20. Said liquid manifold compartment 22 which has a hoop-shaped sidewall 21 which is doubly right angularly bent in profile and has top and bottom walls 23 and 25, respectively, serves as a base for a liquid sprinkler and has a carrying handle 27 in the form ofa loop integrally formed with said sidewall 21. Said liquid motor 12 comprises an inlet port 26 which includes a female garden hose connection, in the instance, an impeller 28, and an impingement tube 30 disposed eccentrically in relation to said impeller 28. One end of said impingement tube 30 is in communication with said inlet port 26 and the other end thereof is cut on a radial bias, the radius of which has as its center the center of said impeller 28. Said impeller 28 which has a worm gear 32 integral therewith is made fast to a shaft 29 supported for rotation about a vertical axis by said top and bottom walls 23 and 25, respectively. Said gear reduction train 14 includes a spur gear 34 which has a worm gear 36 integral therewith, made fast to a shaft 35 supported by stationary structure 38 suspended from said top wall 23 for rotation about a horizontal axis; and a spur gear 40 made fast to a shaft 41 supported by said top and bottom walls 23 and 25, respectively, for rotation about a vertical axis. Said spur gear 34 meshes with said worm gear 32 and said spur gear 40 meshes with said worm gear 36. The upper end of the shaft 41 extends through the top wall 23 and such joint is provided with liquid seal means of well-known construction. A crank 42 external to said liquid manifold compartment 22 has its inner end fast to said upper end of said shaft 41 and its outer end pivotally connected, as at 43, to the inner end ofa link 44. The outer end of said link 44 is pivotally connected, as at 45, to the inner end of a pivot lever 46, the outer end of which is provided with a slot 48. Said pivot lever 46 is pivotally supported between its ends by a pivot pin 50 upstanding from said top wall 23. Said oscillating plate 18 is supported for rotation about a vertical axis by a shaft 19 made fast to and upstanding from said top wall 23 centrally thereof. A plurality of stationary posts 49 upstand from said top wall 23 to serve as supports for said plate 18 near the outer periphery thereof. Said plate 18 is provided with an eccentrically located pin 52 which operates in said slot 48. Each said flexible tubing 24 is provided with a flange at its inner end to form a liquid seal so that liquid cannot escape externally of said tubing and with a flow restriction means at its outer end forming a nozzle. Said plate 18 is operative upon said tubings 24 in unison and between the ends thereof and while they are conveying liquid from the interior of said manifold compartment 22 to the exterior thereof.

In operation of said embodiment 10, the same is connected to a source of liquid under pressure as, for example, a municipal water supply system supplying a residence equipped with water piping including a garden hose having a male garden hose connection. Said female garden hose connection of said inlet port 26 is threadably engaged with said male garden hose connection to convey liquid through said impingement tube 30 against said impeller 28 and to fill said liquid manifold compartment 22. The continual impingement of liquid upon said impeller 28 causes the same to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, which causes said spur gear 40 to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2. Rotation of said spur gear 40 carries said pivot connection 43 with it in a circular are, which causes said link 44 to reciprocate, which causes said pivot lever 46 to oscillate about the pivot connection 50 and through the pin 52 and slot 48 connection causes said plate 18 to oscillate in a circular are about its central vertical pivot axis 19. Simultaneously with oscillation of said plate 18 and upon filling of said liquid compartment 22 liquid issues in a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart vertical streams through said flexible tubings 24, the upper ends of which are made to oscillate in a circular arc by said plate 18. The action of said plate 18 upon the tubings 24 causes each said tubing to bend as much as 60 from its vertical neutral position on either side thereof. The extent of said angular bending of said tubings 24 and the angular speed of said plate 18 and said tubings 24 depends upon the throw of the crank 42 which can be made adjustable by providing an adjustable connection for the pivot connection 43 so that its distance from said shaft 41 can be varied manually by a manual adjustment mechanism disposed above said crank 42 and externally of said plate 18. The throw distance of the liquid from said tubings 24 and the cycles per minute of said oscillating plate 18 are dependent upon the liquid pressure of the liquid source. For a given liquid pressure and size of said embodiment 10, the same produces a maximum sprinkling area coverage which is annular and surrounds and is concentric to said plate 18. The action ofsaid embodiment in produc-- ing said spray pattern is fascinating to observe, particularly the sprays of liquid which continually move from one side to the other of the plate means 18 in tangent lines to the flexible tubings 24. The action of the liquid sprays resembles the opening and closing of a large flower as all of the liquid sprays seem to close when they are upright and then open first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, closing each time between changing the direction of opening. While any given flexible tubing is opening first in one direction and then in the opposite direction the diametrically opposed flexible tubing is opening first in the opposite direction and then in the one direction so that said liquid sprays give an appearance ofintersecting as they change the direction of opening. The oscillation in unison of the flexible tubings 2.4 is also interesting to watch although the movement of said plate means 18 tends to be minimal which creates some mystery as to how the liquid sprays are produced. The sprinkling produced over said spray pattern is substantially uniform.

It should be understood that the plate means 18 can also be made to move in other ways than that shown and described. For example, the plate 18 can be made to move so that its center moves in a circle about a central vertical axis so as to cause the free end of each flexible tubing to move in a circle. Said plate means 18 can be made to reciprocate in a straight linear path so as to oscillate the free end of each flexible tubing in a straight linear path which is perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation of said plate means 18.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by my invention improvements in liquid sprinkling systems in which the object hereinabove set forth together with many thoroughly practical advantages has been successfully achieved. While a preferred embodiment of my invention has been shown and described it is to be understood that variations and changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a liquid sprinkling system, liquid sprinkling means comprising liquid manifold compartment means constructed to connect to a source of liquid under pressure and having inlet port means for liquid to enter therein, a plurality of spaced apart flexible tubings in communication with the interior of said liquid compartment means so that liquid exiting from the latter passes through said flexible tubings and out the free ends thereof, plate means having clearance aperture means therein corresponding to said flexible tubings, said flexible tubings extending through said aperture means so that the free ends of said tubings project beyond a face of said plate means, and means including a liquid motor driven by liquid from said liquid source for moving said plate means and said flexible tubings relative to each other, said flexible tubings being angularly bent between the ends thereof by the action of said plate means upon them, whereby the free ends of said flexible tubings are moved in unison while liquid is passing therethrough to produce a predetermined liquid sprinkling pattern formed by continually moving liquid streams which evenly distribute the liquid thereover.

2. In a liquid sprinkling system, liquid sprinkling means as claimed in claim 1, said liquid manifold compartment means being stationary and serving as a base for a liquid sprinkler, said flexible tubings having their lower ends made fast in respect to said liquid manifold compartment means, and said plate means being cyclically moveable relative to said flexible tubings.

3. In a liquid sprinkling system, the means as claimed in claim 2, both said flexible tubings and said clearance aperture means being circumferentially spaced apart, said plate means constructed in relation to said liquid motor so that it is made to oscillate in a circular arc and so that the free ends of said flexible tubings are caused to oscillate in a circular arc.

4. In a liquid sprinkling system, liquid sprinkling method comprising passing liquid through a liquid manifold compartment so that liquid exiting from the latter passes through a plurality of flexible tubings and out the free ends thereof, providing plate means with clearance aperture means therein through which said flexible tubings extend so that upon movement of said plate means said flexible tubings are angularly bent between the ends thereof, moving said plate and said tubings relative to each other so that the free ends of said flexible tubings are moved in unison so as to spray liquid in a predetermined liquid sprinkling pattern formed by continually moving liquid streams which evenly distribute the liquid thereover.

5. In a liquid sprinkling system, liquid sprinkling method as claimed in claim 4, holding said liquid compartment means stationary so that it serves as a base, holding the lower ends of said flexible tubings stationary and cyclically moving said plate means relative to said flexible tubings.

6. In a liquid sprinkling system, the method as claimed in claim 5, oscillating said plate means in a circular are so that the free ends of said flexible tubings are made to oscillate in a circular arc. 

1. In a liquid sprinkling system, liquid sprinkling means comprising liquid manifold compartment means constructed to connect to a source of liquid under pressure and having inlet port means for liquid to enter therein, a plurality of spaced apart flexible tubings in communication with the interior of said liquid compartment means so that liquid exiting from the latter passes through said flexible tubings and out the free ends thereof, plate means having clearance aperture means therein corresponding to said flexible tubings, said flexible tubings extending through said aperture means so that the free ends of said tubings project beyond a face of said plate means, and means including a liquid motor driven by liquid from said liquid source for moving said plate means and said flexible tubings relative to each other, said flexible tubings being angularly bent between the ends thereof by the action of said plate means upon them, whereby the free ends of said flexible tubings are moved in unison while liquid is passing therethrough to produce a predetermined liquid sprinkling pattern formed by continually moving liquid streams which evenly distribute the liquid thereover.
 2. In a liquid sprinkling system, liquid sprinkling means as claimed in claim 1, said liquid manifold compartment means being stationary and serving as a base for a liquid sprinkler, said flexible tubings having their lower ends made fast in respect to said liquid manifold compartment means, and said plate means being cyclically moveable relative to said flexible tubings.
 3. In a liquid sprinkling system, the means as claimed in claim 2, both said flexible tubings and said clearance aperture means being circumferentially spaced apart, said plate means constructed in relation to said liquid motor so that it is made to oscillate in a circular arc and so that the free ends of said flexible tubings are caused to oscillate in a circular arc.
 4. In a liquid sprinkling system, liquid sprinkling method comprising passing liquid through a liquid manifold compartment so that liquid exiting from the latter passes through a plurality of flexible tubings and out the free ends thereof, providing plate means with clearance aperture means therein through which said flexible tubings extend so that upon movement of said plate means said flexible tubings are angularly bent between the ends thereof, moving said plate and said tubings relative to each other so that the free ends of said flexible tubings are moved in unison so as to spray liquid in a predetermined liquid sprinkling pattern formed bY continually moving liquid streams which evenly distribute the liquid thereover.
 5. In a liquid sprinkling system, liquid sprinkling method as claimed in claim 4, holding said liquid compartment means stationary so that it serves as a base, holding the lower ends of said flexible tubings stationary and cyclically moving said plate means relative to said flexible tubings.
 6. In a liquid sprinkling system, the method as claimed in claim 5, oscillating said plate means in a circular arc so that the free ends of said flexible tubings are made to oscillate in a circular arc. 